Definition for Mineral
From Biology Forums Dictionary
1. An inorganic ion required by a living organism. Minerals are used to build skeletons, maintain the balance of salts and water in the body, provide a source of electric current across plasma membranes, and provide a mechanism for exocytosis and muscle contraction, among other functions.
2. Naturally occurring solid chemical element or inorganic compound with a crystal structure, a specific chemical composition, and distinct physical properties.